Adjustable damper-wire connection for grand-piano actions



Dec. 20, 192 7.

H. SANDNER ADJUSTABLE DAMPER WIRE CONNECTION FOR GRAND PIANO ACTIONS xNvENToR J H9179/ Yan/67u01' ATroRNEYs fill patented Een. 2.29,

narran Nstares rareu'r OFFICE.

HENRY SANDNER, GF UNIGN CITY, Nlll JERSEY, ASSXGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JULIUS ASCHENGER, OF NN CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE. DAlVPER-VIRE CONNEGTGN FOR GRAND-FIANO ACTIONS.

Application ledMarch 1.6, 1926. Serial No. 95,071.

This invention relates to piano actions and has particular reference to an improvement in the damper structure of grand piano actions.

-ltleretoifore the operation ot adjusting the dampers ot piano actions, owing to the fact that the adjusting means has been located at the lower end ot the damper wire or rod adjacent its connection with the damper lever, has practically necessitated the removal oi*l the action from the pianoto accomplish proper adjustments. `Furthermore. owing` to the crudeness oli' the zuljustingl means it has been necessary to resort to the bending,- ot the damper wires or rods 'tor obtaining` precision in the adjustment.

lt is therefore primarily the outstanding object ot the present invention to arrange the damper adjusting means in the damper head proper so that the adjustments can be readily made without removing the action from the piano.

The invention further comprehends an adjustable connection between the damper heads and damper wires or rods, which admits ot' more precise adjustments; which allows tor the removal. of the head trom the wire without disruption of the action; which allows for late al adjustment ot the head. with respect to the wire without bending ot the same, and in which a connection is provided which precludes turning or cantine,v ot the head with respect to the strinO's or wires.

rlhe invention furthermore contemplates an adjustable damper wire connection which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is highly eilicient in its purpose.

lVith the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the 'following specification and accompanying drawings.y in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment orf the invention which is in no `way intended as a limitation upon the scope ot the appended claims as it is to be clearly understood that variations and modifications which properly tall within the scope ot said claims may be resorted to when found eX- pedient.

ln the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of an action equipped with a damper and a damper wire having an adjustable means of connece tion in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 a sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig'. 1;

Fig'. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the clamping sleeve. y

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference A designates the damper lever to which the damper wire B is connected at its lower end, and 4C the damper head to which the damper wire is connected at its upper end. i

rlhe connection between lthe damper head and the damper wire, which constitutes the subject matter ot the present invention, consists in 'forming or providing` the upper end ot the damper wire B with a laterally offset hooked terminal and forming the damper head C with a transverse slot 11 extending` from its lower edge to a point approximately at the center ot said head of a size to snugly receive the hookediterminal 10 of the wire B.

The invention further comprehends a means carried by the damper head for effectiup; relative vertical and lateral adjustments of the terminal 10 of the wire and the damper head, which means includes a clamping` sleeve 12 having` ay transverse elongated opening 18 designed to receive the tree eX- tremity 14e ot the hooked terminal. The clamping sleeve is formed with an internally threaded axial bore 15 in its upperA end which communicates with the transverse opening 13 to allow for the threadingtherethrough of the threaded terminal 16 ot a shank 17, which shank is formed at its upper end with kan enlarged kerlied head 18. The damper head C is provided with a vertical bore 1.() intersected by the slot 11 and eX- tendine upwardly beyond the slot where it 'formed with an enlarged threaded portion 20 disposed wholly within the unslotted upper portion of the damper head, the lower reduced unthreaded portion being of a dameter to snugly receive the clan'iping sleeve 12. A tubular stem 21 having a threaded lower portion 22 is threadedly received in the enlarged threaded portion Q0 et' the damper head bore and it should here be noted that the thread of the shank 17 and the thread of the stem 21 vare oppositely pitched for a purpose to be hereafter set forth. The upper end oit the tubular stein is formed with an enlarged multifaced head 23 or' greater diameter than the kerfed head 18, and beiut 2. I sa? tween whieh heads a washer 9A; is interlaw-'ed The shank l? is designed to er-tend` through the here ot the stem so that in et'teet the stein Sil and its head are swiveled to the clamping` sleeve by means et the shank 17. ln use and operation it obvious `from the foregoing` construction that when the damper head C and damper wire B are assembled by means ot the connection, turnint,r movement ot the tubulai.' stem 2l will Cause the threaded portion 2:2 engaging; in Vthe threaded bore 2l) ot the damper head, to e'il'eet relative vertieal movements o adjustments ot the. head and stem, thereby, due to the eonneetion olf the lower end ot the wire B with the damper (l. in etl'ert eausingg the damper pads l) lo exert. varyinbl pressures on the stringlil. At the saine time, it is obvious that by loosening the threaded terminal 'lll oi the shank which clamps the 'tree terminal 'ist ott the hooked portion lO against the lo 'er end ot the transverse opening '13, lateral adjustments ol the damper head with respeet 'to the wire may be obtained, atter which the threaded terminal may be manipulated to again clamp the extremity lil. By making the threaded portions 1G and 22 ol opposite pitehes, it is obvious that when turning` the stem 2l to eileet a vertieal adjustnient, 'the nnthreading of the shank 1T inevei'ited.

From the foregoing it will be obviousI that in addition to positioningthe adjustable connection at a point which eliminates the necessity oit removing the action from the piano when adjustments are required, the device permits of the removal, replacement, or renewal ot the damper neads .readf ily, while positive and aeeurate adjustments both lateral and vertical may be aeeomplished in a minimum of time and with a minimum amount of labor.

What is Claimed is:

l. A damper construction tor grand piano actions, includinga damper wire, a damper head, and means of connection therebetween 'including a laterally disposed. 'terminal at the upper end ol the damper wire. a clamping; element enangine` said terminal, the damper head carried by the elanipine element tor verlieal adjustments thereon and. the damping, element eonstitntine means il'or allonf'ing' lateral adjustments et the damper head with respect to the damper head :trom said damper Wire.

2. A (fletifieliahle and adjustalile meant.; ot eonneetion between a dainiiier head :uid damper wire, comprising a laterally oll'sel hooked terminal at the upper endol the damper wire, a transversely slotted lower portion ofthe damper head, means tor detaeh'ably clampingr the hooked end ot this damper wire in the slot of the head, and means for vertically adjusting the head after the damper wire has heen secured thereto.

3. A eoniieetion between a damper head and damper wire, eoinprising :i laterally ollset hooked terminal at the up'ier end olf the damper wire, a transversely slotted lower portion ot the damper head reet-ivino the hooked terminal olif the damper wire. a elampingg sleeve having' a lateral openingg, the damper head having,r a vertical bore :it the lower relatively red need portion ot which .intersects the slotted portion and reeeives the (clampingsleeve, the upper 'portion ol sa id bore being interiorly threaded and relatively larger than the lower portion ofthe bore, a threaded tubular stem arranged therein and having;i a manipulatingrportion projeetingl above the damper head, a threaded shank extending' through the bore ot the tubular stem threadedly engaging the upper end o'l the clamping sleeve and roacting` with the lower end oit the transverse opening to clamp therebetween the oiset hooked terminal oitl the dann'ier wire, said shank having;l a kerited upper end, the threaded portion of said shank beine,- oppositely disposed with respeet to the threaded portion ofthe Atubular stem,

Il. A eonneetion between a damper head and damper wire, comprising;l a laterally and ane'irila-rlyv disposed terminal at the upper end o'l the damper wire,y a inedal transverse slotted lower portion in the damper head tor the reception of the otl'set damper wire terminal, a wf'ertieally adjustable element eritendinje; vertically through the upper portion of the damper head intersecting; the slotted portion thereof, and (letaehahle means assoeiated with the adiustable element tor set-uriner `the lateral ansrularly oli'- set terminal oit the damper wire, wlierehjv,v lateral and vertieal adjustments olE the damper head are obtained and disennneelion oit the damper wire and damper head is ilfaeil itated.

HENR Y SAN DN l?) lh itn 

